Skip to content
Piano By Number and Down's Syndrome
Piano By Number and Down’s Syndrome are linked in origin. The idea for the piano method came from one specific Down’s child I taught. Contrary to popular belief, kids with Down’s syndrome are not severely retarded, but fall into the middle ground in terms of disability. I’m not a doctor but my professional experience has drawn me to many special kids. I have learned much from them.
In my experience, kids with Down’s have several common qualities, many of which indicate a superior musical sense. I find that Down’s kids have excellent musical memories. They can retain complex series of notes and reproduce them, if given enough repetition. And that repetition is another of their strong suits. They don’t mind doing the same thing over and over if it is pleasing.
Piano Is Easy
Reading Music Is A Problem
Reading music may be a problem. But they are very good with numbers, which is why Piano by Number is a natural choice for them. Find one of their favorite songs and translate it into numbers, or find it in one of our books. Playing a favorite song is thus a very special pleasure for them, spurring them on to learn more about the piano.
There are also self-esteem issues involved. Being able to play a familiar song may not seem like much to “normal” kids, but to a Down’s kid it is a singular victory over his environment and condition.
Try Piano By Number
Try a familiar song using Piano By Number and you will see how easy it is:
Sense Of Rhythm
These special kids also have a very good sense of rhythm. In fact, a child I taught with a severe Down’s condition did very well with Piano by Number. But when I showed him how to play rhythmic games, he was the best I have ever seen.
He Starts Playing Drums
This child could take musical dictation, at least in terms of rhythm. That means that I could chant any rhythm and he would answer back exactly what I had done. His Mom picked up on this and bought him a second hand drum set. We put it next to the piano and our little band was born. We played any song that he knew, so there were a lot of TV and film themes and game tunes and Disney.
He played a blistering backbeat to my piano solo, and we sang when we thought about it. He supplied fills and added little details and flourishes that only a talented percussionist might think of. If you find music they know and love, you may have a very natural young musician in any one of these kids. It’s a hobby these special kids can love forever.
REFERENCES:
PIANO BY NUMBER AND DOWN'S SYNDROME
PIANO BOOKS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN
PIANO BY NUMBER FOR A SEVERELY DISABLED CHILD
HYPERACTIVE CHILDREN AND THE PIANO
BRAIN HEMISPHERE COORDINATION AND CHILDREN’S PIANO
BRAIN CHEMISTRY AND EMOTIONS IN CHILDREN’S PIANO
BRAINS, CHILDREN AND PIANO
THE PIANIST WITH TWO BRAINS
ENDORPHINS, CHILDREN AND PIANO
WHY KIDS DISLIKE PLAYING WITH THEIR LEFT HAND
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHILDREN, PIANO, MUSIC AND MATH
EINSTEIN’S PIANO
EINSTEIN’S VIOLIN IMPROVISATIONS IN GYPSY STYLE
PIANO BRAIN CHEMISTRY FOR KIDS
BRAIN HEMISPHERES AND KID’S PIANO
MATH, PIANO AND KIDS
NEUROTRANSMITTERS, CHILDREN AND PIANO
BRAIN STRUCTURE AND KID’S PIANO
I have recently met a 9 year old boy who is a part of my life through a good friend. His name is Alex. I’d like to help Alex as much as possible. I came across this article. Can you assist me in what I should purchase to assist him with music? I know that he likes music. Thanks much.